The Arduino platform is a great way to start experimenting with electronics on the cheap, but it has also allowed new products to be built and offered for sale. One company taking advantage of that fact is Adafruit, who have just created a new build-your-own printer.

Adafruit’s main goal is to come up with new ideas for projects using open source hardware and software, like their open source iCufflinks, and then share them with everyone. The Adafruit “Internet of Everything” printer is no exception.

Unlike a standard printer, the IoT printer uses receipt paper for printouts. It is meant to be connected to the Internet and used to print out tweets, shopping lists, reminders, the results from your favorite sporting events, the lottery numbers, and anything else you care to commit to paper. As this is an open platform, you are also free to modify and add to its functionality too.

At the same time, the IoT printer is meant to be a fun project, so it doesn’t come fully assembled. You get all the parts required to build it except an Arduino board, which you must buy separately if you don’t already have one.

Included in the printer package is the printing unit, power adaptor, laser cut case, cabling, and other essential smaller parts. To get it working there’s some screwing and soldering involved, but a full tutorial should stop you getting stuck.

At $89.95 the IoT printer isn’t cheap, especially when you need an Arduino too. But it does make for a fun weekend project and a new device to sit connected to the Internet feeding you information.